MORRISTOWN — The former treasurer of the Mine Hill Fire Department admitted today that she embezzled $330,000 from the department and used it for personal expenses.

Lisa Ayers, 40, of Mine Hill, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Morristown to stealing the money from January 2007 through February 2013 and said her thefts included using Mine Hill Fire Department checks to pay off her mortgage and her family’s motor vehicle loans.

Under the plea agreement with the state Attorney General’s Office, Ayers agreed to pay $228,631 in restitution, because she previously paid back more than $100,000 while she was treasurer. She also agreed to forfeit the two vehicles in question – a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Those agreements will settle a civil lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s Office against her, attorneys said.

Ayers’ thefts from the tiny township in western Morris County included 53 checks totaling $77,661 that she used to make payments on the mortgage loan for her home, 26 checks totaling $9,556 that Ayers used to make payments on her car loan and 32 checks totaling $13,915 for her husband’s car loan, according to a statement issued by acting Attorney General John Hoffman.

Under questioning today from Judge Stuart Minkowitz, Ayers broke down in tears when she admitted she stole the money “to help my family” and “to save our house.”

Ayers pleaded guilty to a charge of theft and under the agreement, she will be sentenced to five years in state prison.

Ayers is applying for admission into the state’s Intensive Supervision Program and if she is admitted, she may be released in as little as six months, according to her attorney, Paul Selitto. Sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 3.